Moldy Weed If you smoke or vape moldy weed, you are unknowingly inhaling thousands or even tens of thousands of harmful microbial spores and mycotoxins that can have long-term negative health implications.
Exposure to these compounds can irritate the respiratory system and result in coughing or wheezing, and also weaken immune systems resulting in infections.
1. Allergic Reactions
Moldy cannabis releases mycotoxins into the air that can have disastrous effects on one’s lungs, making inhalation hazardous to health.
Diets containing moldy weed typically result in coughing and throat irritation, while moderate-to-severe reactions could even cause fungal infections in their lungs or throats.
Some types of mold, like Penicillium, produce mycotoxins that can be particularly toxic. This fungus may contaminate cannabis during growth, harvest and storage processes – blue or green spots can indicate contamination from Penicillium-contaminated cannabis and could result in mycotoxicosis – an often serious and life-threatening condition. Moldy weed often emits a musty scent and appears dark in color.
Before purchasing and storing cannabis, it is vital to inspect it for signs of mold. Storing your stash in an airtight container is one of the best ways to protect it from growing mold and becoming toxic; glass jars are one cost-effective solution, while CVault or vacuum sealer storage solutions may offer greater assurances of dry bud. Furthermore, an airtight container helps prevent vapor escaping the buds, potentially causing problems like air pollution.
2. Infections
Smoking moldy weed is not only unconvenient and unpleasant, but it can also have serious repercussions. Certain forms of mold can lead to aspergillosis – an infection of the lung cause by inhaling its spores from smoking moldy weed – with large balls of fungus developing inside your lung that require surgery to be remove. Sometimes these spores even enter your bloodstream and travel further along your system, leading to further complications or even serious infections in other parts of your body causing further infections than intended.
Mycotoxins or toxic mold spore and fragment that you inhale while smoking moldy weed. Pose another major concern of smoking moldy weed: They are dangerous compound found on mold spore surface and fragment you might inhale when smoking moldy weed, with potentially hazardous levels being inhaled during smoking sessions. That can make you sick if taken in large doses; particularly affective against people with compromised immune systems.
Maintaining mold-free weed is easy by keeping an eye out for fuzzy growth on buds and leaves, typically white, gray or green areas with fuzzy texture that could indicate mold contamination.
3. Mycotoxins
Mycotoxins are mold metabolite found in various food items, including whole grains, dried fruits, nuts and legumes. That often occur as the result of fungal contamination of crops during production, growth or storage; their presence poses a serious threat to human and animal health and safety as they can have adverse health consequences for both adults and children alike. Common mycotoxins include aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, ochramycin patulin fumonisins and zearalenone.
Mold spores and mycotoxins typically do not pose major threats to healthy individuals; however, those with preexisting respiratory conditions or allergies may experience more severe reactions from exposure. Breathing these toxins could even trigger aspergillosis lung infection symptoms like fever, difficulty breathing, chest pain and coughing up blood.
Instead, opt for fresher batches of bud or extract made from mold-free plants instead. That way you won’t risk ingestion of mycotoxins and you can ensure your dab is safe to consume.
4. Smoking
Moldy weed should never be inhaled as this can lead to inflam sinuses and lungs, leading to coughing, wheezing and congestion symptoms as well as fungal infection.
Although some may find it possible to smoke moldy weed without experiencing negative side effects, the risk is too great. Depending on which fungi are involve, certain strains could prove particularly hazardou For example, Aspergillus can lead to an Aspergillosis lung infection that leads to fever, chest pains, bloody sputum production, difficulty breathing and can even spread into other parts of your body and lead to death.
Other fungi commonly seen on cannabis include powdery mildew, white fuzzy mold (Sclerotinia), and botrytis or “bud rot.” These contaminants may contaminate it during growing, harvesting and storage processes.
Moldy bread may not be safe to consume, but how about moldy weed? Unfortunately it’s difficult to tell whether a stash has gone bad; but if you’re worried about its safety it is wise to examine it visually prior to smoking any. If any sign of mold develops then discard it immediately.